THE LAGAN NAVIGATION PROGRESS ON THE PROPOSAL BY THE LAGAN CANAL TRUST TO RE OPEN THE NAVIGATION TO LOUGH NEAGH As a scheduled monument within the PPS 6 framework - “Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage”, the canalised sections of the River Lagan and Navigation are afforded protection as an archaeological monument of Regional importance.
THE LAGAN NAVIGATION IN THE 1700s In 1649 by Colonel Monk of the Cromwellian Army ordered a survey from Lough Neagh through the Lagan Valley to the Eastern Seaboard – Belfast It used to be about freight its now about people
THE LAGAN CANAL TRUST AND THE NAVIGATION CORE FUNDED BY THE 3 COUNCILS ALONG THE ROUTE Belfast, Lisburn & Castlereagh, Craigavon with DCAL AND NIEA THE LAGAN CANAL TRUSTS OBJECTIVES • Ensure that all our work is informed by and fits with the Programme for Government and addresses the objectives of our Departmental, current and potential partners and stakeholders; • Ensure that the Trust is resourced to deliver a complex programme of work; • Develop an important historic and cultural asset which is recognised locally, regionally and nationally as having the potential to make a significant contribution to Northern Irelands economy; • Contribute to addressing poverty, social exclusion and climate change adaptation.
THE LAGAN NAVIGATION IN BELFAST
THE NAVIGATION AND THE BIGGER PICTURE IN NORTHERN IRELAND – THE STARTING POINT OF WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS BELFAST HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS • In 2014 a record 23M tons of freight ; • 112k cruise passengers ; • over 1.3 million ferry passengers; • 31% of Northern Ireland’s tourism revenue is supported by visitors arriving by ferry to the port • Proposed c£7m investment in Ireland's first purpose built cruise liner facility CITY QUAYS DEVELOPMENT • A c£250M investment over a long term plan Approval now received by BCC • Addressing economic and environmental issues impacting on the area; to begin the c£4M Lagan • To increase active use of the river, creating destination places that will Gateway project at Stranmillis attract people across the river • The Trust is advocating construction of a sea lock within this project
THE LAGAN NAVIGATION IN LISBURN
LISBURN & CASTLEREAGH CITY COUNCIL THE CRUCIAL MID POINT With the greatest percentage of Navigation ‘miles managed’ along the 27 mile route, 35%, LCCC is an important partner of the Trust and The Waterways College Hilden Mill waterside regeneration DISCOVER WATERWAYS LISBURN The Lagan Navigations flagship visitor destination comprising; • Refurbishment of 5 locks and a weir • Restoration of Navigation House & gardens; • Work with our 2 private sector partners providing land for car Down Royal Racecourse parking. • This site will be the home of The Waterways College Maze Long Kesh site
CONNECTIVITY ARMAGH CITY, BANBRIDGE AND CRAIGAVON BOROUGH COUNCIL From Aghalee to Lough Neagh, ABC Council is a strategic partner of the Trust with the potential to connect the Ulster Canal through Lough Neagh to Letterkenny . The Council supports the Trust with specialist advice on conservation and rural issues. • The largest number of ASSI and other important environmental classifications on the Navigation are within its boundary. • Two of the first three locks on the waterway to have recognition as ‘Structures at Risk’ are in Aghagallon. • Work has begun to look at viability of linking the three locks to the village to increase both the rural visitor attractions and wider use of villages facilities. This will form refurbishment of the locks and new footpaths.
POTENTIAL CONNECTIVITY OF INLAND WATERWAYS OF IRELAND With the potential to connect 600 miles of inland waterways the Lagan Navigation has a huge role to play in connectivity, alternative transport routes and economic diversity through the development of a waterways tourism offer. Connection to Lough Neagh coupled with the Ulster Canals proposal to re open from the South of the Island will make it possible to travel from Belfast to Limerick through blue and greenways currently unexplored.
RE OPENING PROPOSED PHYSICAL OUTPUTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TEACHING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES • Length of new tow path created - 9 kilometres • New roads/pedestrian access paths/roads - 700m new road, 500m of pedestrian paths • New locks - 7 • Existing locks to be refurbished – 18 • New Road Bridges – 8, New footbridges – 30Additional soft landscaping hectares - 6 hectares. Approximately 10m2 per m length of Navigation • Length of river enhancement - 5 kilometres • New weirs in - 4, Corbie Wood, Drum Bridge, Young's Bridge, Down Royal • Old weirs out - Possibly 5nr - Edenderry, New Grove, Seymour Hill,, Lambeg, and Hilden • Refurbished weirs - 2 - Shaw's Bridge, Becky Hogg's Weir • Dredging to improve flows/channel and manage water quality throughout the Navigation SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OPPORTUNITIES • New businesses, jobs • New car parks – 7 • New mooring 160 total- Stranmillis, Canal Basin, Maze, Down Royal, Broadwater , Aghalee and Ellis' Gut, Lough Neagh • New slipways - 4 , Stranmillis, Maze Long Kesh, Broadwater, Ellis Gut • New fully serviced marinas – 5, Stranmillis, Canal Basin, Maze Long Kesh, Broadwater, Ellis' Gut • Dry dock - Lisburn Canal Basin
THE TRUSTS APPROACH TO RESTORING AND BRINGING INTO USE OUR INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE 26 of the 27 locks on the Navigation are now derelict, lock number 12 at Lagan Valley Island Centre is the exception, all are Scheduled Monuments affording Regional protection. The Trusts simple approach, which has met with approval of NIEA and the asset owners is to; • Clear vegetation and inappropriate planting impacting on the structure of the lock; • Carry out a structural and photographic survey and report on work planning and cost to stabilise the structure; • Establish a maintenance regime informed by a Conservation Action Plan; • The Trust has no project funding so seeks grant support to arrest deterioration leading to loss of our heritage; • Achieve the goal of Re opening the Navigation throughout its 27 miles
Union Locks Case Study March 2013
Union Locks 3 months later - June 2013
CURRENT PROJECT ACTIVITY ON THE NAVIGATION Lock No1 LAGAN GATEWAY PROJECT AT STRANMILLIS BELFAST CC COUNCIL LOCK N0 3 , SHAWS BRIDGE Belfast CC LOCK Nos 14 - 17 UNION AND No 13 BECKY HOGGS LOCK No-s - 24,25 AND LOCKS, LISBURN & NAVIGATION HOUSE 26 AGHAGALLON – Castlereagh CC Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon BC
INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR NI 2011 – 2021 Building a better future ……. Importantly, we will continue to invest in flood risk management infrastructure so that people and property in vulnerable areas are less at risk during extreme weather. PROGRESS ON £1.8M EU SUBMISSION FOR LIFE FUNDING LIFE is the only EC’s financial instrument supporting environment and nature conservation projects throughout the EU. It is aimed purely at improving the environment and is complementary to the other Community research programmes (such as Horizon 2020), the structural funds (such as ERDF) and other rural development programmes. LIFE Programme € 3,456.7M (2014-2020) Sub-programme for Environment Sub-programme for Climate Action € 2,592.5/75% € 864.2/25% Environmental Climate Nature & Environment & Climate Change Climate Change Governance & Governance & Biodiversity Resource Efficiency Mitigation Adaptation Information Information
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN THE LAGAN VALLEY WHERE IT IMPACTS ON HUMAN, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
A sustainable response to the need to develop skills, jobs, volunteering, educational and community outreach through heritage, environmental and cultural learning opportunities
The Waterways College (TWC) concept is to recognise and increase knowledge of and maintain the role waterways have played in our industrial, social and cultural heritage. It will, for the first time in 300 years, give communities a say and the opportunity to be part of the future of waterways in Ireland. TWC will promote this unique opportunity in all aspects of community planning - social, physical, economic and environmental regeneration.
TWC – PROOF OF CONCEPT 2 YEAR PILOT Aligned to the on going work of the Trust initially, TWC has an important role in maintenance of assets. Programmes and project based learning will be delivered in two strands both aligned to the STEM agenda – we also have Arts which makes it STEAM; STRAND 1. DELIVERY OF FORMAL TEACHING, LEARNING AND ACCREDITATION PLATFORMS. Programmes and projects delivered through innovative and accessible learning activities - sustaining the built, natural and cultural heritage of waterways and their environments. STRAND 2. DELIVERY OF SOCIAL LEARNING. Volunteering, community and educational outreach programmes and projects to enrich the learning and entrepreneurial experience.
TWC PILOT PROJECT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE The Lagan Canal Trust PROJECT PROJECT BOARD CHAMPIONS Springvale Employment STRAND 1 and Learning Delivery THE WATERWAYS COLLEGE PILOT PROJECT 2014 - 2016 STRAND 2 Lisburn & Castlereagh City Delivery Council
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